Our Setting
"A Home from Home"
We are fortunate enough to live in a beautiful 17th Century old farm house which not only has plenty of character and space to accommodate a small childcare setting such as ours, but this house, I feel, really was meant to be filled with the pitter patter of tiny feet and the big loud voices, giggles, laughter and the general hustle bustle of life with lots of babies and young children and anything less just feels a waste of such a gorgeous space. We are also very lucky to have a private and enclosed large garden which backs onto fields and a beautiful view in a rural village location, making for an idyllic place for children to grow, play, learn and explore.
What does a typical day at Aunty Helen’s look like?
We are a small 'home from home’ setting where all children can grow, explore and learn at their own pace in a safe, nurturing and loving environment. Being here for children is very much like staying with ‘Aunty’ in a family environment where the care is tailored to fit around each individual child’s needs, with the aim to ensure they develop well into secure happy and confident children ready to take their next steps onto pre school or school. We are fairly free flow and child lead here where teaching and learning through various play and activities are adapted to the children’s interest and attention span. Although some activities may be adult led and pre planned, (especially if we have arranged to go out), but most of the time, however our activities at the setting are planned in the moment making and following the interest of each child. We have routines and structures but are also fairly relaxed and I can recognise if a child is needing down time as much as play and learning, whatever we do though, we have fun!
Out and About in the Community…
Some days we may go ‘out and about’ where I take children to various places such as children’s play parks, soft play or role play centres, toddler / baby playgroups, baby music classes, shops, supermarket, on countryside and river walks, to visit the town etc. We may also have planned days out such as to the beach, animal parks, farms, zoo, sea life, forest schools or national trust properties provided we have parental consent of course. Any outings will be risk assessed and our first aid kit and 'in case of emergency' ID cards for myself and all attending children will be taken with us everywhere we go following correct procedures and policies that are in place to safeguard all children.
Our Regular Routine
0800 - 0900
0930 - 1000
1000 - 1200
1200 - 1300
1300 - 1500
1500 - 1530
1600 - 1630
1630 - 1730
1730
Children are welcomed to the setting, signed in and hang up bags and coats
Snack Time in the kitchen (provided by parent)
If we are staying home then we will have some free play in our dedicated playroom, dining room
(if taking part in arts and crafts) and or the garden depending on the weather. Any younger children
that still need a morning nap have the opportunity to sleep in a separate quiet sleep zone.
If we are going 'out and about' then we will engage in an activity such as playgroup or other groups
classes, soft play or role play centres to fill our morning of fun, learning and socialising in the community and maybe meeting up with other local childminders / nannies too sometimes.
Children who need to sleep tend to fall asleep in the car or buggy, when we go out.
Home for our Lunch (provided by parent) If we are on an all day outing then we take our
packed lunches with us so we don't have to rush home.
Nap Time in our dedicated ‘Sleep Zone’ all children encouraged to nap / rest.
If younger children have already had a morning nap and do not need a nap during this time
then quiet play and one to one engagement is offered so not to disturb sleeping children.
School Run, we walk across the road to the local primary school to pick up our
after school children and return home for further activities play and learning opportunities.
Snack Time in the kitchen or dining room (provided by parent)
Wind down and getting ready for Home Time
(children will start to get collected anytime after 3.30pm depending on their contracts).
Children waved goodbye at the door and brief handover offered to parent - signed out -
Doors Closed.
Meet the Pets
We are a family of pet lovers and as such a pet friendly setting and while I believe that children can very much benefit from being around animals, learning to take care of and be responsible for pets and potentially forming wonderful healthy bonds with them, I also understand the importance of keeping everyone safe, the children, the animals and our home, therefore it is crucial that risk assessments are carried out and that we follow procedures and policies in successfully managing them together. I also realise that there are going to be some families and children that may have allergies and or anxieties around animals so this may be a deciding factor into which childcare setting you choose.
The Cuddler
Ruby
Our newest recruit, is a our gorgeous female Border Terrier young dog, she joined our family in May 2023 at 8 weeks old, but we have known her since only 3 days old. She is my youngest baby and will happily follow me around the house and garden all day and when we are out she most likely will sit in her bed in the window watching and waiting for our return. Ruby is fantastic with the children and has not known her home without babies and toddlers in it as she came into the already established childcare setting. She is playful, sociable and friendly but very gentle and such a good girl who is well disciplined. She loves nothing more then lots of attention and cuddles and you will most definitely be greeted at the door she will want to say hello to everyone she meets but for most of the day she is happy to curl up in her bed in the window and sleep. Ruby has a crate that I can put her in if I feel that either she or the children need time out from each other.
The Hunter
Milo
Joined our team in 2018 he is a very handsome blue Burmese cross adult male cat who is a proficient hunter and spends all night out on his adventures, but he really is a big old lazy softy at heart and when not out chasing birds you will find him curled up fast asleep on our bed pretty much all day. He loves his Daddy the most especially when he picks him up cuddles him and gives him tickles under his chin. He keeps out of the way most of the day when the children are here as he prefers his own company these days now he is getting older so he is most likely to be found in the upstairs to our home which the children do not have access to.
The Timid
Luna
Is our pretty Siamese British Short hair cross female cat who has been with me since 2016 as the first of my fur babies. I brought her home when she was 4 months old when it was just the 2 of us and my young children since then she has grown with us adding to our family along the way and welcomed both Milo and Ruby into the fold. Although a little timid she is still the boss and the others know their place. She can be rather anxious at times especially as she has got older so will most likely hide away to the safety and tranquility of our upstairs keeping out of the way until her tummy starts to rumble. She is very gentle and very affectionate towards mostly me, she loves a warm lap to cuddle up on but any sudden movement or noise and she will run away and hide so you wont see her around the children very much at all.